What Child Is This? is a popular Christmas carol written in 1865. At the age of twenty-nine, English writer William Chatterton Dix was struck with a sudden near-fatal illness and confined to bedrest for several months, during which he went into a deep depression.[1][2] Yet out of his near-death experience, Dix wrote many hymns, including “What Child is This?”, later set to the traditional English tune “Greensleeves”
Collins Hands Reid A Final Offer On Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell
Brian Beutler | December 8, 2010, 5:58PM
Here’s what Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) told Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid that she needs to support a full Senate debate on the defense authorization bill (the vehicle for Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell repeal): 15 guaranteed votes on amendments (10 for Republicans, and 5 for Democrats), and somewhere around four days to debate the bill.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid already promised her the 15 amendments, but his initial offer was for a day or two of debate. Here’s her response to reporters tonight, after a Senate vote.
“The majority leader’s allotment of time for to debate those amendments was extremely short, so I have suggested doubling the amount of time, assuring that there would be votes, and making sure that the Republicans get to pick our own amendments as opposed to the Majority Leader.”
“If he does that I will do all that I can to help him proceed to the bill. But if he does not do that, then I will not,” she added.
Late this evening, per Collins’ request, Reid delayed a test vote he’d planned to hold tonight.
“Everyone on the Republican side wants to see the tax package completed first,” Collins said.
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2010/12/collins-hands-reid-a-final-offer-on-dont-ask-dont-tell.php
Who Will Be TIME’s 2010 Person of the Year?
Take a look at this year’s candidates (listed in alphabetical order) and give them your rating — though TIME’s editors who choose the actual Person of the Year reserve the right to disagree.
The Candidates
•Julian Assange
•Glenn Beck
•David Cameron
•The Chilean Miners
•Arne Duncan
•Recep Tayyip Erdogan
•Jonathan Franzen
•Lady Gaga
•Robert Gates
•Tony Hayward
•Hu Jintao
•LeBron James
•Steve Jobs
•Hamid Karzai
•David and Charles Koch
•Liu Xiaobo
•Barack Obama
•Sarah Palin
•Nancy Pelosi
•Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf
•Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert
•The Unemployed American
•J. Craig Venter
•Elizabeth Warren, Mary Schapiro and Sheila Bair
•Mark Zuckerberg
Read more: http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/completelist/0,29569,2028734,00.html#ixzz17aAwqlKf
BWA HA HA HA Lawrence O’Donnell is off the CHAIN with Alan Grayson. And he hasn’t even gotten to Arianna Huffington and Ezra Klien yet!
I’m watching now.
WTF does Velma have to say?
Good ole Velma Hart’s back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Obama: Proposed Tax Deal Makes Dollars And Sense
by Scott Horsley
December 8, 2010 The Obama administration is hoping to persuade skeptical lawmakers to approve a tax cut deal, by arguing the proposal makes dollars and sense. Many Democrats are unhappy with the measure, because it would extend Bush-era tax cuts for even the wealthiest families. Some Republicans don’t like the plan’s unemployment benefits, or its taxes on wealthy estates.
AUDIO HERE
http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=131881313&m=131881306
Derrion Albert Murder Trial: Video Of Fatal Beating Shown In Court
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/08/derrion-albert-murder-tri_n_793686.html
CHICAGO — After deliberating for little more than half an hour, a jury convicted a 15-year-old boy of first-degree murder Wednesday in the 2009 beating of a Chicago high-school honor student that was captured on video and seen around the world.
The teen landed a single punch on the face of the other boy during a melee outside the school, but prosecutors argued that the punch “signed Derrion Albert’s death certificate.”
As the verdict was read, the teen’s aunt ran out of the courtroom yelling “Oh lord, Oh lord.”
The boy, who is not being identified because he is a juvenile, fell back in his chair and shook his head.
“I am pleased. Justice was served,” said Norman Golliday, Albert’s grandfather. “The facts were there from the start, they stared you right in the face. The jury saw that.”
But the convicted teen’s defense attorney said he would appeal. Lawyer Richard Kloak acknowledged that his client punched Albert as he staggered to his feet after being knocked on the head with a long board, but argued that the punch didn’t amount to the serious crime the teen was accused of.
So RAchel Maddow has a black guy David Bahati from Uganda who sponsors a bill to kill gays in their country.
MSNBC is so transparent See look blacks are homophobic too!
BREAKING: DREAM Act Passes First Hurdle
By Mary Hough – Dec 8, 2010 7:38:35 PM ET
Comments | Mail to a Friend | Report to Admin
Shortly after 7pm the House of Representative’s took its first vote on the DREAM Act:
“SpeakerPelosi: House passed rule for #DREAMAct 211-208–bill debate to give young people a chance at the American dream now on houselive.gov or cspan.org.”
This clears the way for a vote on the DREAM Act itself later tonight. You can watch the debate online here.
http://houselive.gov/
Eugene, the stuttering coon is shuckin’ for MSNBC, I see. KO needs to go back to sportscasting.
Keith should have been gone a long time ago. He doesn’t even vote and yet this mofo has the nerves to complain. STFU Keith Olberman!!!!!!!!!!!
The nerve of Keith Olberman to talk shit about the politcal process. What a fucking joke! This swivel-chair, paper-throwing jerk does NOT VOTE.
GTFOH KO!
Luke Scott Rips Obama, Questions President’s Birthplace
Baltimore Orioles outfielder Luke Scott was at baseball’s winter meetings on Tuesday and discussed President Barack Obama with David Brown of Yahoo’s Big League Stew.
Scott slammed Obama, claiming that he does not represent America and that he was not born in the United States.
“He was not born here. That’s my belief. I was born here,” Scott ranted. “If someone accuses me of not being born here, I can go — within 10 minutes — to my filing cabinet and I can pick up my real birth certificate and I can go, ‘See? Look! Here it is. Here it is.’ The man has dodged everything. He dodges questions, he doesn’t answer anything. And why? Because he’s hiding something.”
The 32-year-old went on to say that there is no legal documentation of Obama.
2yrs in and idiots like him are still bring this crap up, unbelievable!!
In other news, Hulk Hogan gave his analysis of Derivatives Trading and its effect on the economy
So, his belief is taken as fact? What idiot moron!
Basically, this CaC did not vote for Obama and does not accept him as HIS president. NEXT!
Felix Salmon provides some context to the tax debate on Capitol Hill, reminding that federal taxes are actually the lowest in 60 years, “which gives you a pretty good idea of why America’s long-term debt ratios are a big problem. If the taxes reverted to somewhere near their historical mean, the problem would be solved at a stroke.”
“Income taxes, in particular, both personal and corporate, are low and falling… Employment taxes, by contrast — the regressive bit of the fiscal structure — are bearing a large and increasing share of the brunt. Any time that somebody starts complaining about how the poor don’t pay income tax, point them to this chart. Income taxes are just one part of the pie, and everybody with a job pays employment taxes.”
Aretha Franklin Has Pancreatic Cancer
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/08/aretha-franklin-cancer-_n_793812.html#comments
UPDATE: WJBK FOX 2 News in Detroit confirms that Franklin has cancer. A family insider told the station that she’s doing, “OK,” but they ask for the public’s prayers.
PREVIOUSLY:
A week after undergoing surgery for a mystery illness, the National Enquirer reports (via PopCrunch) that famed singer Aretha Franklin has incurable pancreatic cancer.
The surgery, labeled a success, came under mysterious circumstances. This is the first time this illness has been reported. In November, she canceled all concerts through May 2011 due to “medical reasons.”
The Enquirer’s report lists pancreatic survival rates at 5-10%, and even lower for someone of Franklin’s age and weight.
Say it ain’t so. Say it ain’t so.
Lord Have Mercy! My thoughts and prayers to Aretha.
really bad news! If they did not catch this early..it is bad news. Usually, it is difficult to diagnose and 2 far gone when they finally know it.
AREATHA will always be the Queen!
It’s so heartbreaking to hear. Pancreatic Cancer is an extremely painful cancer.
Hey DJ, NO effing way were you banned!
Please, post away here. It’s safe. You are ALWAYS welcome anytime, even when you post on other sites. :-)
Ameita/aka Shanti2
Pancreatic cancer is some serious buisness. although the life expectancy is not high, it’s treatable but not curable.
Aretha’s living on borrowed time. Prayers to her and her family
Mercy Mercy, my Lord!
I wish I can comment to you at JJP but I cant.Maybe I have been banned I dont know.But right now I have no home
Hey DJ!
Welcome to 3 Chics. Our home is your home. Know that!
What do you mean banned? Not that ugly word? Can’t be. Not after you kept that place afloat after the mass exodus.
DJ…are u serious!! u were the only staunch poster after most of us left.
AnyHOO!! welcome to 3 chics!!
Howard Fineman on Hardball saying the President is weak with his base.
I could smack this mofo. Stop fking lying, Howard Fineman.
Fuck Howard Fineman and his once-dyed hair, HuffPo swooner.
LMAO @ once-dyed hair!
Howard is off his rocker..just the facts:
“The underlying fact here is that it’s very hard to imagine a primary from the left that has almost no support from the African-American voters who are the heart of the anti-war, pro-government left wing of the Democratic Party. And with his numbers at 90% among African-Americans — and over 80% among liberal Democrats — there’s just no space for that challenge.”
I’m sure we have some lurkers on this and other AA blogs that are testing this primary PBO nonsense. Please, do, bring it on, MOFOs. Now runtellat!
Dec 8, 12:54 PM EST
Senate to vote on gays in military
By ANNE FLAHERTY
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday he would demand a vote on letting gays serve openly in the military, a test of whether Republicans have dropped their objections to overturning “don’t ask, don’t tell” after a Pentagon study found it could be done without hurting military effectiveness.
The vote late in the day Wednesday would be procedural, paving the way for future debate if approved. Reid announced his intentions on the Senate floor.
Reid’s call for a vote was considered a gamble by Democrats who have been pushing for months to overturn the 1993 law, which bans gays from revealing their sexual orientation. Republicans have blocked previous attempts to advance the bill, citing procedural grounds. It remained unclear Wednesday morning whether GOP concerns had been addressed.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_GAYS_IN_MILITARY?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2010-12-08-10-44-07&om_rid=DRaeQf&om_mid=_BM-$5oB8WI2uqQ
The President signs the Claims Resolution Act of 2010
5:30 PM EST
http://www.whitehouse.gov/live
Can you post it, SG2? Thanks
Sure.
WEDNESDAY, DEC 8, 2010 08:30 ET
BY STEVE KORNACKI
Obama’s silent majority
You’d never know it from cable news, but the average liberal Democrat actually likes the job the president is doing
Everyone knows that progressives have been growing increasingly disillusioned with Barack Obama since, well … even before he took office. He’s compromised too much, fought too little, sold out on one big issue after another, and fallen horribly, tragically short of the transformational goals that defined his 2008 campaign.
And now that he’s gone and cut a deal with Mitch McConnell (of all people!) to keep the Bush tax cuts in place for the wealthiest Americans for the next two years (at least), the left’s anger is louder than ever. No wonder Time’s Mark Halperin says the president’s base is “shattered.” And no wonder the media is filled with speculation about a potential challenge to the president in the 2012 Democratic primaries. Really, has there ever been a president who’s succeeded so thoroughly in taking the very people who put him in office and turning them against him?
It’s a fun topic for cable news and the blogosphere, where liberal commentators and activists routinely brand the president a Judas and threaten to support a primary challenger in 2012. And it’s a fun topic in the “mainstream media,” which takes all of this racket as confirmation that Obama is rapidly losing — or has already lost — his base.
There’s just one problem: The premise on which all of this is based is totally and completely wrong. Liberal commentators and activists and interest group leaders may be seething over Obama, but their rage has not trickled down to the Democratic voters (and, in particular, the Democratic voters who identify themselves as liberals), even though they’ve been venting their grief for the better part of two years.
As I noted earlier this week, Obama’s approval rating among Democrats has held steady at or near the 80 percent level throughout all of the turmoil of 2010. This puts him in as strong a position with his own party’s voters as any modern president has been at this same point in his presidency (with the exception of George W. Bush, whose numbers remained unusually high for well over a year after 9/11). Look closer and you’ll also find that Obama’s approval rating among Democrats is actually highest among those who call themselves liberals — an 83 percent score in the most recent round of Gallup polling, completed a few days ago. Among moderate Democrats, he clocks in at 75 percent, and among conservative Democrats, 69 percent. Again, these numbers have more or less held steady all year. To the extent Obama has a serious problem with Democrats, then, it’s with those who are on the right, not the left. This is hardly what you’d expect for a president who, according to the dominant narrative, has spent his presidency poking a stick in the left’s eye by cutting deals with conservative Democrats and Republicans.
Obama, in other words, seems to have developed his own silent majority. Rank-and-file liberal Democrats may not agree with everything he has done, but they do not share the sense of abandonment and betrayal that has defined liberal commentary throughout so much of his presidency. The party’s liberal base still very much likes him; it’s the elites who have turned on him.
The biggest reason for this disconnect, I would suggest, is that the liberal Democratic base liked Obama, both personally and ideologically, from the very beginning. Virtually from the moment he electrified the 2004 Democratic convention, liberals latched on to him as one of their own — and they haven’t (and don’t want to) let go.
This is not an unheard of phenomenon in politics, and it’s one of the reasons I’ve been so keen on comparing Obama’s political appeal to that of Ronald Reagan. Rank-and-file conservatives felt as strongly about Reagan in the 1980 campaign (and in 1976, for that matter) as liberals did about Obama in 2008. And they stayed true to him even when conservative elites concluded two years into his term that Reagan was a sellout.
Indeed, in the wake of this week’s drama over the Bush tax cuts, it’s worth recalling a similar moment in Reagan’s presidency, when congressional Democrats forced him into a tax hike in the summer of 1982. Like Obama now, Reagan had no leverage: The economy was spiraling out of control, voters were abandoning him, and Democrats were having great success (or seeming to have great success) hammering him over the exploding deficit. Thus did Reagan agree to a tax hike package that increased revenues by nearly $100 billion over the next three years — the largest tax increase in history, right-wing activists and commentators screamed. To these conservative elites, it was simply the latest act of betrayal by their one-time hero. When the GOP was drubbed in that fall’s midterms, they claimed vindication (see — not conservative enough!) and talked openly of challenging Reagan in the 1984 primaries. But rank-and-file conservative voters didn’t listen. They still liked the Gipper, still thought he was one of them, and still backed him in polling. It’s the same story today for Obama with rank-and-file liberals.
If Obama had been introduced to the Democratic base differently — that is, if they’d been suspicious and resistant to him and he’d landed in the presidency in spite of their skepticism — the objections of liberal elites might be far more damaging.
Here a parallel can be drawn to George H.W. Bush, who was introduced to the GOP’s “New Right” base in 1980 as the moderate, Gerald Ford-ish establishment Republican running against Reagan. Thus, the New Right, which essentially took control of the GOP for good with Reagan’s ’80 triumph, never really trusted Bush. Eight years of loyal service as Reagan’s V.P. was enough to win Bush the right’s benefit of the doubt in 1988, but when he “caved” as president — as he did on the S&L bailout, the 1990 tax hike, and a host of other issues — it merely brought back to the surface all of the right’s old attitudes toward him. So when the triumph of the Gulf War faded in 1991, there was room for Pat Buchanan to run to Bush’s right in the 1992 primaries. Buchanan didn’t win any states, but he did secure enough support — especially in New Hampshire — to severely embarrass the president. Obama’s history with liberals, though, is much different from Bush’s history with conservatives.
This isn’t to say that it’s impossible for Obama to lose the Democratic base; it’s just that there’s a lot more goodwill toward him among that base — and a lot more willingness to rationalize his “betrayals” as sensible pragmatism in the face of the other party’s obstructionism — than most people recognize.
At his press conference Tuesday, Obama noted that many of the “purist” liberals now blasting his tax cut deal also savaged his final healthcare compromise earlier this year, which wiped out the public option. It’s an apt comparison. And it’s worth remembering that the cries of betrayal back then did nothing to lessen rank-and-file’s assessment of Obama’s job performance — probably because the main thing they saw was that Obama, unlike every president before him, had actually gotten healthcare done.
http://www.salon.com/news/politics/war_room/2010/12/08/obama_silent_majority/index.html
Now THIS is the indisputable TRUTH..let’em try and primary!!
“The underlying fact here is that it’s very hard to imagine a primary from the left that has almost no support from the African-American voters who are the heart of the anti-war, pro-government left wing of the Democratic Party. And with his numbers at 90% among African-Americans — and over 80% among liberal Democrats — there’s just no space for that challenge.”
Harry Reid pushing to legalize online poker for American casinos, horse tracks
http://www.lotterypost.com/news/224406
Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is reportedly taking a gamble that would change up the online poker industry.
The popular game may soon be run on the web by casinos in Nevada and across the United States, thanks to legislation being floated by the Nevada senators’ staffers, the Wall Street Journal reported.
American financial institutions were banned from processing online gambling transactions in 2006, costing the industry billions in what has been a rapidly-growing American addiction worth $25 billion a year, according to ABC News.
Supporters of the bill — which hasn’t officially been introduced — have already drawn fire from some lawmakers who slammed the effort as a bill that would pray on gambling addicts to pay for the nation’s growing deficit.
Honestly Harry, but you sqawk at the tax cut compromise…. Sorry MOFO
Moved To Tears: Oprah Tells ABC’s Barbara Walters: “I’m Not Lesbian”
by Mark Joyella | 12:31 pm, December 8th, 2010
Following up, Walters asked about “those…dumb rumors” that Winfrey and King are gay:
“I’m not a lesbian … I’m not even kind of a lesbian,” Winfrey said. “And the reason why it irritates me is because it means that somebody must think I’m lying. That’s number one. Number two … why would you want to hide it? That is not the way I run my life.”
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/moved-to-tears-oprah-tells-abcs-barbara-walters-im-not-lesbian/
GAWD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Look at ALL the WHINEY TITTY BABIES
http://www.sfgate.com/blogs/images/sfgate/parenting/2007/02/07/051022_Pacifiers_hsmall.widec.jpeg
Tell the truth, now! Not one word about Feingold, Manchin, Nelson, Webb, or that turtle-faced Lie-berman.
These Dems are showing their true colors *whitenss/priviledge, and it sure as HELL ain’t pretty.
Lawrence O smacked them good, but I’m keeping my eyes on him too. These MOFOs are all turncoats.
Hey y’all !!
I saw that ish last night. First of all, Jane looks like the joker from batman. She needs to go someplace and sit down. What does she know? What is she an expert in? Nothing! She knows nothing!
That punk Adam green couldn’t argue his position to save his own life. And that guy who wrote the book couldn’t come up with one example of a sitting President changing the mind of a Republican on taxes. The only one who knew anything was Ezra Klien. LO made the rest of them look stupid.
I’m over these priviledged stupid individuals who have never led a movement in their lives! But they want our beloved President to do all the work while they sit on tv talking trash. No pushback on their senators. NONE!!
I concur about Jane Hamsher. WTF was she doing there?
That bitch is all over the cable networks leading the charge. She aint shit to me or anyone in my circle of influence. Talking loud and sayin’ nothing. GTFOH
This meme circulating that black voters should be dissmayed by the POTUS for compromising is beyond transparent and disgusting.
Why the fuck would PBO’s supporters, a majority of whom are black or ethnic turn on the POTUS for compromising for something that will benefit them.
Blacks by in large have always been the MORAL compass for this racist ass country. We just want what is rightfully ours, you know like a decent fucking job, good schools, decent and fair wages, a car with 4 wheels, good clean food, you know clean air to breathe……
so excuse of white folks if we love the Black president for doing what is right and not necessarily POPULAR to soothe your white priviledged, selfish souless natures. bye!
Why the fuck would PBO’s supporters, a majority of whom are black or ethnic turn on the POTUS for compromising for something that will benefit them.
What? Do they think black people would leave the First African American President, a black man who was once so oppressed in this country……mofos, please!
I’m not leaving my President for sh*t. Nah Nah Nah…
Finally….
Republican Tom Emmer conceded the Minnesota governor’s race to Mark Dayton on Wednesday, surrendering after a statewide recount failed to substantially change the Democrat’s nearly 9,000-vote election night lead.
“Minnesotans made their choice, by however thin a margin, and we respect that choice,” Emmer told reporters gathered at his home outside Minneapolis.
He could have sued over the election outcome but decided against it after a key state Supreme Court decision went against him. He cited the court’s opinion in his concession, but also alluded to major issues facing the state.
“I do not believe a delay in the seating of the next governor will unite us or help us move the state forward,” Emmer said.
The statewide recount was Minnesota’s second in just two years, following the 2008 Senate standoff between then-GOP Sen. Norm Coleman and Democrat Al Franken. Franken came out on top in that recount, but his margin was just a couple of hundred votes. Few observers thought Emmer could close a gap of thousands.
Emmer’s concession vaults Dayton back into power just four years after he quit the U.S. Senate after a single term. It also gives Democrats the governor’s office, a prize they haven’t won in 20 years.
Dayton has to move ahead quickly with his transition. He’s due to take office Jan. 3 and the state has a budget deficit of more than $6 billion.
Minnesota tightened up its election laws after the Coleman-Franken recount exposed weaknesses, and carried out the governor’s recount in just a week. Emmer’s concession came just as a state canvassing board was due to begin going over the recount results before certifying a winner.
http://www.1500espn.com/news/n3217694
About friggin TIME!! Pawlenty likely squashed a challenge he did not want to be held captive as governor, cuz he ready to start campaigning for the Presidency. …hahahaha…ain’t gonna happen!
FCC’s pay-as-you-go Internet plan raises video, access questions
By Cecilia Kang
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, December 7, 2010; 8:11 PM
As details emerge about the Federal Communications Commission’s controversial proposal for regulating Internet providers, a provision that would allow companies to bill customers for how much they surf the Web is drawing special scrutiny.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/07/AR2010120706533_pf.html
this bitch is perpetuating the nonsense of PBO being “weak & irrelevant” so that she and the rest of the CaCs can continue making $$ to stay white, powerful and relevant.
FULL FRONTAL WHITE PRIVILEGE!
Phuck Rachel Maddow & her white privilege ass! I’m so done with this heffa.
LOL maddow can’t stand it that PBO’s smarter than the Rhodes Scholar.
ditto what SG2 said!!
Dan Rather: Obama Could Get Serious Primary Challenge In 2012
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/12/07/dan-rather-obama-primary_n_792986.html
Former “CBS Evening News” anchor Dan Rather is predicting that if the Bush tax cuts are extended for two years (as now appears likely) President Obama will face a tough primary challenge from the left.
LMBAO!
I know they don’t think we’re going to take that kindly? We can show’em better than we can tell’em. No Democrat can win the White House without the black vote. If the President has a challenger and he loses…..the Democratic Party can kiss the most loyal voting bloc good-bye.
Sounds like an ULTIMATUM to me Ole ‘Dannie boy! you either do what the lefty, whiney, white priviledged pundits and bloggers say or else we’re gonna run you BLACK ass otta the White House!
Bye, Bithces!
there can be no challenge. WE are the base and we ain’t voting for no challenger. Nothing but white pipe dreams!!
My letter from OFA:
Ametia –
Yesterday, the President announced the framework of a bipartisan agreement to extend a set of tax cuts that were set to expire, restore unemployment benefits for millions of Americans, and pass additional measures to help middle-class families and create jobs.
Now, he’s recorded a video to speak directly to OFA supporters about the deal. Watch it here — and leave a note with your thoughts.
http://my.barackobama.com/page/content/TaxCutsVideo/?source=20101207_MS_act
December 8, 2010, 9:44 am Minnesota: Emmer Reportedly Will Concede to Dayton
By MICHAEL D. SHEAR
Tim Pawlenty, the outgoing Republican governor of Minnesota, might be able to leave his post on time after all.
Tom Emmer, the Republican candidate to replace Mr. Pawlenty in the executive mansion, is reportedly planning on conceding the governor’s race to Democrat Mark Dayton later this morning.
Mr. Dayton has led Mr. Emmer by about 9,000 votes since election day, prompting Mr. Emmer to seek a recount. Had Mr. Emmer continued to contest the race into new year, it would have kept Mr. Pawlently in office longer than he had expected.
Instead, the Star-Tribune in Minneapolis reports that Mr. Emmer will bring the race to a close at 10:30 this morning, clearing the way for Mr. Pawlenty’s expected bid for the Republican presidential nomination.
Stay tuned to The Caucus for updates.
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/12/08/minnesota-emmer-reportedly-will-concede-to-dayton/
Congressional Democrats Gloomy About Tax Cut Plan
by Brian Naylor
Democrats in Congress are giving President Obama’s tax deal with the Republicans a rocky reception. At best, some members of the president’s party are grudgingly accepting the agreement. Others say they were betrayed and are mounting a rebellion.
Some Democrats are looking over the proposal to extend the Bush-era tax cuts, including those for the rich, for opportunities to get some of their own provisions included.
Democratic Rep. Jim McGovern just finished a successful campaign for re-election. He says for half a year, he traveled his Massachusetts district arguing in favor of extending the tax cuts for middle-income taxpayers and letting taxes rise for wealthy Americans.
“I said it for six months because I actually believed it was the right policy and I think it’s a policy that was worth fighting for,” he says. “I wish the president had put up a bigger fight. I hope Democrats in the House and Senate put up a bigger fight. I think it’s that important of an issue.”
McGovern says he’ll probably vote against what he labels a bad deal. And he’s not alone. Across the Capitol, Vermont independent Sen. Bernie Sanders says he intends to do everything in his power to “stand up for the American middle class and defeat this agreement,” including a filibuster.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) issued a statement in which she stopped well short of endorsing the package, saying discussions between the president and the Democratic caucus will continue. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada has not added his endorsement, calling the plan “something that’s not done yet.”
http://www.npr.org/player/v2/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=131893955&m=131898962
Good Morning, Ametia, 3 Chics, Friends & Lurkers!
Happy Wednesday!
Christmas Glitters Graphics
Hi ya, SG2! Here’s some morning cheer for you:
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/__j-Yh5rKmeY/Sh2rGgOB69I/AAAAAAAAAjQ/o5mFlyVP8pk/s400/cup-of-coffee.jpg
Oh how wonderful. I like that cup of cheer. :)
The cable stations are showing their asses today
Phuck the cable stations. They’re water carriers for the GOP!
Tom Emmer expected to concede MN governor’s win to Mark Dayton this morning.
Yippee!! On to redistricting…we will be able to defeat Bachmann when they redraw her district…yooHOO!!
December 7, 2010
Condi RICE GETS ON BOARD….
START
Last week, the Washington Post ran an op-ed co-written by Secretaries of State for the past five Republican presidents: Henry Kissinger, George Shultz, James A. Baker III, Lawrence Eagleburger, and Colin Powell. All five urged the Senate to ratify the pending arms treaty called New START.
There was, however, a name noticeable in its absence. Has anyone heard from Condoleezza Rice lately?
As it turns out, the Secretary of State from George W. Bush’s second term broke her relative silence this morning.
Former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, writing in the Wall Street Journal, urges the Senate to ratify the new START treaty, but to make clear to Moscow the treaty doesn’t limit U.S. missile defenses.
Rice — George W. Bush’s secretary of state and a former NSC official in his father’s administration as well as a fluent Russian speaker — has been conspicuously missing
until now from the lists of former GOP national security heavy-weights who have lined up to endorse the U.S.-Russian nuclear arms reduction treaty, whose antecedents have enjoyed broad bipartisan support. Among those backing the treaty: Henry Kissinger, Colin Powell, James Baker, Brent Scowcroft and George Shultz, as well as ranking Senate Foreign Relations Committee Republican Dick Lugar (R-Indiana).
One advocate of the treaty questioned the importance of Rice’s public endorsement at this late stage, given signs, he said, the deal is already basically sealed. But it’s worth considering whether Rice, who recently met with Obama in the Oval Office, kept her endorsement in reserve ’til now closer to when START advocates are making a full-court press to get the treaty a Senate vote.
Excluding the current Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, who obviously backs the treaty, there are eight former Secretaries of State, six of whom served Republican presidents. All eight support swift Senate ratification of New START.
When it comes to foreign policy and U.S. diplomacy, this is a little something folks like to call “consensus.”
http://www.evri.com/media/article;jsessionid=187ep9v7tlodp?title=Rice+gets+on+board&page=http://www.washingtonmonthly.com/archives/individual/2010_12/026960.php&referring_uri=/person/condoleeza-rice-0x27a33%3Bjsessionid%3D187ep9v7tlodp&referring_title=Evri
Happy HUMP day, Everybody! :-)